Enviro News Asia, Aceh Tamiang — The Ministry of Forestry, together with the Garuda Task Force for Forest Area Enforcement (PKH), the National Police, the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI), the Aceh Tamiang Regency Government, the Langkat Regency Government, and local communities, has initiated efforts to restore forest functions in Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP). The enforcement is carried out by clearing illegal oil palm plantations, followed by rehabilitation of 59.32 hectares of forest area, on Thursday (September 4, 2025).
The initial activities took place in Bahorok (10 ha) and Tenggulun (19.32 ha) from September 1–10, 2025. Next, clearing will continue in Batang Serangan (30 ha) and Tenggulun (300 ha). The action targets oil palm trees aged 2–12 years, using heavy equipment in Tenggulun and chainsaws in Bahorok.
In an official statement, the Ministry of Forestry said that the operation was witnessed by ministry officials, the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force, local governments, communities, and NGOs. On this occasion, tree planting was also carried out to initiate the ecosystem restoration process.
Several parties who had illegally occupied the land have voluntarily returned their areas, including PT SSR (0.63 ha) and AS (18.69 ha) in Tenggulun on August 13, 2025, as well as community lands in Rembah Waren and Paten Kuda, Bahorok, on April 28, 2025.
Subhan, Head of the Gunung Leuser National Park Authority, explained that the restored areas would be replanted with wildlife food plants and boundary vegetation. Several partners, such as the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme–OIC, the Leuser Conservation Forum, and the Sustainable Ecosystem Foundation, have also committed to voluntary restoration efforts.
Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, emphasized that the Ministry of Forestry is committed to collaborating with various stakeholders through integrated law enforcement instruments to restore forest areas.
Commander of the Garuda Forest Area Enforcement Task Force, Major General Dody Triwinarto, expressed appreciation to the communities who voluntarily surrendered their illegal oil palm lands. According to him, community support accelerates the restoration of conservation forest functions, particularly in GLNP.
Director of Forestry Criminal Enforcement, Rudianto Saragih Napitu, added that the Ministry of Forestry’s Law Enforcement Directorate had previously carried out six operations against illegal logging as well as one security restoration operation in Tenggulun and Langkat. He stressed that collaboration among all parties will continue to ensure the recovery and restoration of GLNP and its ecosystem. (*)
